There are no long queues at security or carbon emissions to
offset when staying in this converted 70s private jet. It carried
up to nine passengers in its heyday, but now sleeps four guests who
will enjoy first-class features such as an illuminated bar and
flight games in the cockpit – though you’ll have
to disembark to use the nearby shower block and kitchen area.

Sleeps: 4

This four-storey, weatherboarded windmill has us in a spin with
its knotted-oak beams, giant spur wheel, spiral staircase, copper
basins and views across the garden of England. Plus, there’s a
great spot under the apple tree outside for barbecues. It’s usually
booked up months in advance; plan ahead – our pocket guide to
nearby Rye may come in handy. If you like this, check
out Winterton Lighthouse in Norfolk for an equally
elevated stay.

Sleeps: 2

Full disclosure: this is not a penthouse but a revamped 50s
caravan where the USP is a vintage Land Rover
with a hot tub built into the bonnet. A little gimmicky? Perhaps,
but when we’re stewing with a glass of red and views across the
North Devon countryside, it’s really hard to care. Stepping inside
the retro Bluebird motorhome is akin to stumbling back a few
decades thanks to chequerboard lino, ditzy floral curtains, a Bush
radio and an art-deco bathroom, should you need even more soaking
time.

Sleeps: 2

Lit lovers, this one’s for you. Set in Wigtown – Scotland’s
official National Book Town since 1998 – this charming bookshop lets you live out that fantasy of having your
own indie bookstore by the sea with a novella-sized apartment
above. It’s non-profit, meaning the room rate is affordable, and
you’ll be expected to help out with running the shop after training
from Wigtown’s well-read community of booksellers. Think of it as a
bookshop residency. Plan your stay for late September/ early
October to catch the Wigtown Book Festival.

Sleeps: 2

Talk about finding gems on your doorstep. This Grade II-listed
church was built for the Eton College Mission in the late 19th
century. Thankfully for us, Matthew Lloyd Architects transformed it
into a pad as cool as its hip London locale in 2007, and it’s since gone on to bag a
handful of awards for architecture and design. Expect an airy,
loft-style living area, original brickwork and windows, spiral
stone stairways and 360-degree views from the roof.

Sleeps: 7

Spot the island of Tobermory across the Sound of Mull through
the panoramic windows of this aluminium pod designed by Roderick
James Architects. Bedrooms come in the form of cosy bunks in the
middle of the “ship”, a small yet functional kitchenette and
dining area at one end and living space at the other.

Sleeps: 2

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into a Brontë
novel at this Jacobean manor. Little seems to have changed since it
was built in 1620, such is the wizened allure of its mullion
windows and gnarled beams set among 17 private acres. This is a
great spot for a family-and-friends get together thanks to its nine
bedrooms and adjoining cottages – for a more intimate retreat, rent
out the first floor alone. Sleeping 15, Suffolk’s Butler Priory, a whitewashed 12th-century
abbey, is a more southerly answer to Crayke Manor.

Sleeps: 16+

If Brighton is the UK’s home of hedonism, then this
one-bedroom rental makes for a divine retreat from the debauchery.
Constructed in 1876, this former chapel set among Victorian mews
has been given the kind of revamp of which we’re not entirely sure
its 19th-century parishioners would approve. Bathed in the light
from original stained-glass windows, you’ll find a metallic
roll-top tub, neon crucifix and a chandelier fashioned from black
lego.

Sleeps: 2

Found at the end of a hidden track in a private, weatherbeaten
cove on the Hebridean Isle of Lismore – meaning “the great garden”
in Gaelic – this wood-clad Airbnb is for those who want to get off
the beaten track without forgoing design-forward luxuries. Spend
days in the company of plants before retreating to the steam room.
Better yet, this new, sustainable build has been constructed in a
way that leaves minimal impact on the environment.

Sleeps: 3

There are lots of yurts, domes, earth houses and such on Airbnb
that promise to get you up-and-close with nature but fall flat when
it comes to comfort and style. Enter Foxborough Bubble Den. Nestled
between woodland and water, this unconventional transparent dome
has Pinterest-worthy interiors. Start the day breakfasting to views
across Portglenone and round it off with s’mores on the firepit
before falling asleep under an inky, star-flecked canopy – without
worrying if it’ll rain in the night.

Sleeps: 2

Moored on the north bank of Little Venice, just opposite
Browning’s Island – and a stone’s throw from Paddington Station –
this 17m-long wood-panelled narrowboat offers back-to-basics
escapism in the heart of London. It’s decked out with bunk single
beds and a pull-out double as well as a shower, cassette toilet,
kitchenette and a combination stove for chilly evenings. For more
river stays in the Big Smoke, try the 19th-century Captain’s
Cabin in a Dutch clipper at Tower Bridge or this Scandi-minimalist boat on Kensington Canal.

Sleeps: 4

Run by Lydcott Glamping, The Pasty is among the UK’s first
Iglucraft cabins. Simple blonde-wood interiors make sure that sea
views take centre stage – though we’re particularly taken with the
queen-sized bed that converts into a dining area. Like this? Check
out sister property The
Pilchard that sleeps four guests on the coast of Looe.

Sleeps: 4